Crossroads

Ch. 48: Home Is Where the Heart Is

"You haven't been home in so long. I've been calling you." I said to Daniel as I stepped into his room and closed the door behind me. I had just put Mani to bed in his nursery.

It's been a couple days since the whole fiasco with Khalil. I've been needing to talk to Daniel. Not only that but I've missed him. That mishap with Khalil only made it obvious to me that despite the issues I have with Daniel, he's the one I really want to be with. He's taken so much  mistreatment from me and he continues to be patient and loving. I had a baby with another man and he still wants to be with me... If that's not unconditional love, I don't know what is. I shouldn't take advantage of that because no man waits forever. I know I'd be sick to my stomach if he were to go be with another woman. I won't allow it. It's finally become clear to me.

He zipped up the black duffle back he was shuffling through and tossed it on the floor by his bed. "I know, Chink. I'm sorry. I've just been busy finalizing things. We plan on making a move tomorrow night. Then hopefully all this mess will be over." He sat on the bed and rested his elbows on his knees. He seemed stressed.

"Oh, is that why you decided to come home? For a full night's rest?" I walked towards him and took his hands as I positioned myself to straddle him on the bed. I made sure to sit directly on his groin. Just the way I knew he liked it.

"I guess so." He laughed at my actions. "What are you doing?" I knew he was shocked by my sudden affection.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and rested my forehead on his. "What? I can't hug up on you?"

His hands traveled to my butt where he began to rub in a circular motion. It was one of my favorite things he did. "Yeah, but it's just weird. You don't even like me."

I giggled. "Don't do that. You know I love you." I caressed his cheek and stared into his captivating brown eyes. I pressed a warm, soft kiss on his lips. Our lips pulled apart slowly, almost as if they didn't want to let each other go. "I've been missing you like crazy. You would know that if you would answer your phone." I pouted.

He chuckled and I smiled at the redness flooding his cheeks. He was blushing. "Yo, where is all this coming from? Did you do something?"

I sucked my teeth. "Why I gotta do something to miss you?"

"I don't know. This is strange. Few weeks ago you barely wanted me to give you a kiss on the cheek."

I sighed. "I do need to talk to you about something."

"See, there it is. I know you." He laid back on the bed and folded his hands behind his head.

I rolled my eyes and slid my hands under his shirt, messing with his abs. "So, the other day, Khalil asked me to go over to his house to pump some breast milk for Mani, right?" I stretched the truth. He didn't need to know that Khalil just wanted to show me the house.

"Mhm." He muttered to let me know he was listening. He looked so cute with his smooth skin and curly eyelashes.

I couldn't read his expression so I proceeded. "So, ever since he came back from Hawaii, he's been trying to convince me to get back with him and have me and Mani move in with him." I nervously paused and studied his face to see if he would react but he didn't. I looked down at his torso and traced my finger around his navel. "Then, he went on to tell me that the house he bought that he's living in right now was actually for us and blah blah blah. Things got a little heated and I basically told him he couldn't buy me with a house. He proceeded to show me around and... and things almost got out of hand but I didn't let it."

"What does 'almost got out of hand' mean?" His two eyebrows were damn near touching each other in the middle.

"I don't wanna say it. You know what I mean."